We’ve all been through times where things have gone wrong. However, there are some things that are preventable. And sometimes we don’t realise the full impact of the decisions we make, until later.
Over the last couple of posts, we’ve seen Jethro correct some of Moses’ leadership decisions and give him some very good advice. (Click on A fresh understanding of leadership and Choosing leaders to see these posts.) Today’s post looks back at Moses’ initial pattern of leadership (which set alarm bells off with Jethro), and the lingering effects of that leadership pattern on the Israelite community.
Moses inadvertently sets a wrong pattern
Prior to Jethro’s arrival, Moses’ pattern was to sit all day, listening to people’s petitions and make judgments for them. He was focused primarily on people, meeting their needs and dispensing God’s wisdom for the situations they found themselves in. If they needed to hear what God had to say about something, they went to Moses, and he would tell them (Exodus 18:13-16). This pattern had the unintended effect that the people looked to Moses rather than God, in order to know what to do.
When Jethro arrived and saw this pattern in action, he exclaimed “What you are doing is not good” (Exodus 18:17). God promised amazing results if Moses followed Jethro’s advice and made drastic changes (Exodus 18:23). And Moses followed through and did everything Jethro suggested (Exodus 18:24). However, the pattern of looking to people rather than God for solutions had already been established within the Israelite nation. Let’s look at some of the ongoing consequences of this pattern that Moses inadvertently established, and see what happened.
Consequence 1 – Looking for a substitute
By the time the Israelites arrived at Mt Sinai, the people saw Moses as their only connection with God. But then God called Moses up to the mountain, and he disappeared from their sight for 40 days (Exodus 24:12-18)! He seemed to be away for such a long time (Exodus 32:1).
It wasn’t so much that the people were were leaderless, as Aaron was there in Moses’ stead. What they had lost, and what they were really so desperate for, was connection with God. So they sought another way to connect with God. They looked for a substitute for Moses.
They tell Aaron to “Arise…” or “Come…” (NIV) and “make us gods” (Exodus 32:1). “Arise” and “make” are both imperatives, or commands. The people are now commanding the leader (Aaron) – and he obeys them and makes a golden calf, which is similar to one of the Egyptian gods.
When Moses returns, he confronts Aaron, saying, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” (Exodus 32:21). Moses could see the people were “running wild” and “out of control” (NIV); “unrestrained” (NKJV); “naked” (KJV); “broken loose” (ESV, RSV) (Exodus 32:25). This same word is used in Proverbs 29:18 which says, “Where there is no revelation [from God or no divine revelation], the people cast off restraint (or are undisciplined, running wild, unrestrained].”
What the Israelite people were hungering for was connection and revelation from God. And because Moses was unavailable to give it to them, they ran wild.
Leadership lessons
From this narrative we can see the dangers of the leadership style Moses initially set in place that caused Jethro such alarm:
- People look to the leader rather than God, relying on the leader to hear from God for them.
- They will begin to demand action, telling the leader what to do. In other words, the people begin to lead, rather than the leader.
- If the leader follows the people’s leading rather than God’s, then they will cast off restraint – probably thinking they are entering “freedom,” when they are actually entering bondage!
- They will end up putting something else in the place of God – i.e. they will substitute an idol for God.
It also begs the question – what did Moses not teach Aaron along the way? Did Moses just assume that Aaron already knew what he knew?
Consequence 2 – Lack of personal revelation
The pattern whereby leaders look to people rather than God, takes some time to be broken. Two years later, the consequences are ongoing.
Numbers 13 tells the story of sending 12 spies into the land of Canaan. Each of those chosen to spy out the land were leaders in their own right – one from each tribe (Numbers 13:2). We know the story well. These leaders came back with a report that the land was beautiful and fruitful, but the people that resided there were powerful and the cities were fortified and very large. Their final summary was, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are” (Numbers 13:31).
Their response was people-focused. It was according to their own sight and their own capabilities rather than from Almighty God’s perspective. The leaders therefore lacked a revelation and understanding of God’s call, God’s promises and God’s power. By contrast, Caleb and Joshua did have a revelation of who God was, and that He had promised to give them the land. That’s why they were so adamant they would be victorious. However, their voices were totally drowned out.
Remember that all the spies were leaders of the tribes. And their people-focus was infectious. The rest of the Israelites picked it up and even talked of stoning Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:10). They could not see what Caleb and Joshua saw.
The resulting rebellion led to 40 years of wilderness wandering, until the whole generation passed away (Numbers 14:34-35).
Checking our own patterns
The patterns we set for ourselves, and the patterns we set as leaders, are important. That’s because when we get into a pattern or a rhythm, it can be really difficult to break out of it.
If something is continually going wrong, or you cannot get victory in an area, perhaps take a look at your patterns. Track backwards from the problem or issue and see if there is an underlying pattern that needs to change.
God doesn’t want any of us to stay locked into human patterns or boxes. Any pattern that is self-focused or people-focused, probably needs to be checked for limitations, substitutes for God, doubt, and possibly even rebellion.
The only way to avoid this is to have revelation from God. And that requires us to lean into relationship with Him.
So let’s not follow Moses’ example. Let’s stay humble and teachable. Let’s make sure we are not overly people-focused. And let’s ensure we have others who can speak into our lives and provide us with another perspective, like Jethro did for Moses.
Be blessed as you continue to follow our Father this week.
